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The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased slightly to 8.4 percent in December from 8.3 percent in November, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce reported Friday. The rate was 1.2 percent lower than the December 2011 rate of 9.6 percent.

During the month, the number of employed increased by 5,325 to 1,969,560. The number of unemployed grew by just more than 3,200 to 180,000. The labor force expanded by about 8,500 to 2,149,000.

Nationally, the unemployment rate remained at 7.8 percent, with about 28,000 more Americans working and 164,000 additional people searching for work.